Second Ukrainian diver arrested over Nord Stream sabotage

On August 19, 2026, Croatian police arrested Ukrainian national Vladimir Z. in Pula under a European warrant. German prosecutors say he is a trained scuba diver who took part in planting explosives that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines near Bornholm in September 2022. He is suspected of causing explosions and sabotage. This follows the July 2026 charging of former Ukrainian officer Serhii K., who allegedly led the operation. Vladimir Z. was previously detained in Poland but released after extradition was refused. The German government welcomed the arrest as progress in clarifying the pipeline bombings.